Met Police Launches Facewatch Phone App to Get 'Londoners to Help Fight Crime'

LONDON police have launched a phone app full of thousands of images of wanted suspects, many related to last year's riots.

The idea is that the millions of Londoners with smartphones will download the Facewatch app and, through the wonders of crowd-sourcing, help police identify the nearly 5,000 suspects whose CCTV pictures they've so far uploaded.

“This is a great opportunity for the public to help us fight crime and bring those who remain outstanding to justice," said Mark Rowley, Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police.

“My hope is that the two-thirds of Londoners who own smartphones will download this App, and help us identify people we still need to speak to.

“We need Londoners to browse through the App every week or so as new images will appear regularly. This is a fantastic way for Londoners to help us to fight crime.”

In total, the Facewatch app - logo: a slightly creepy Big Brother-style all-seeing eye - starts with 4,880 suspect photos, split between 2,880 of suspected rioters and 2,000 of suspects for other crimes.

“We are extremely pleased to be the technology partner behind the Facewatch application and, by working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service team, to help in a small way towards creating a safer and more secure city - especially in such an important year for London," said Simon Gordon, director of Facewatch.